Army, officers in Police clothes surround university of Asmara

Addis Ababa, August 9(ENA)-- The Army and officers in plain clothes have reportedly surrounded the university of Asmara. 

An Awate.com website quoted News from Asmara as saying that the police are trying to discourage crowding around the university and dispersing students.

 Exit roads from Asmara to other towns are being checked to monitor student movement, it said, adding that tension has been growing between the Eritrean government and the students for sometime now. 

The tension has worsened after the detention of the Student Union leader, Semere Kesete, who was arrested a week ago three days after he delivered a speech in a graduation where he himself graduated. 

Meanwhile, the Asmara Students' Union said government threats would not force the students to change their positions. 

The Union said the Asmara University students only need proper responses to their demands, which it said were legitimate. 

The Union also dismissed as false reports by the state owned media that the Union's leader was brought before the court of law. 

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